When a claimant has limited proficiency in English, an administrative law
judge (ALJ) will request that hearing office (HO) staff arrange for a
qualified interpreter to assist the claimant and the ALJ at the hearing.
See Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual
I-2-6-10. The Social Security
Administration (SSA) will provide interpreters free of charge if a
claimant requests an interpreter or a claimant needs an interpreter to
ensure that he or she is not disadvantaged.

While not exhaustive, any of the following may indicate that a claimant
needs an interpreter at the hearing:

The claimant notes on the request for hearing that a foreign language
interpreter is needed;

The field office indicates that a foreign language interpreter is needed
(noted in either eView or the Case Processing and Management System);

The claimant indicates on form SSA-3368, Disability Report-Adult, that his
or her ability to speak and understand English is limited; or

The record includes reports of contact or other statements that suggest
the claimant may need a foreign language interpreter.

HO staff must utilize the language interpreter services provided under the
blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for in-person interpreters to assist the
claimant and the ALJ at the hearing.

Under the BPA, only certified and accredited linguists and personnel are
provided. Therefore, additional certification of the BPA contract
interpreter by the ALJ on the record at the hearing is not needed. See
HALLEX I-2-6-10.

HO staff procures, schedules, and documents the BPA services using a
Delivery Ticket Form, and the assigned ALJ certifies that the services
were rendered.

TIS is a telephone service that provides immediate interpreter services
and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TIS has over 3,000
interpreters who can interpret over 150 languages and dialects.

HO staff may schedule TIS interpreters by contacting Language Select at
1-800-200-7236. TIS is usually able to connect the HO with a qualified
interpreter within a few minutes.

The HO staff does not need any authorization to use TIS and additional
certification of the interpreter by the ALJ on the record at the hearing
is not necessary. See HALLEX
I-2-6-10. For specific
instructions on using TIS, see the Multi-language Resources Page.

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